Norm Emblem

Norm Emblem is Counsel and a member of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution group of Dentons' Toronto office. His practice focuses on Commercial Litigation, with a very broad-ranging commercial litigation and advocacy practice.

His practice includes class action defence, securities, auditor's negligence, CCAA, defamation, banking and insolvency litigation, professional negligence (lawyers, engineers, architects, planners), products liability, Mareva injunctions, Anton Piller Orders, Norwich Orders, high-end disability income claims, insurance defence, personal injury defence, workplace investigations, "whistleblower" complaints, directors & officers liability, shareholders' disputes, intellectual property disputes involving trade secrets, patents and confidential information, Coroners' Inquests, Public Inquiries and human rights litigation.

Norm has particular expertise advising and representing accounting firms and, in particular, the "Big 4" Canadian accounting firms, primarily in securities-related class actions often with cross-Canada and/or cross-border implications, as well as in related regulatory proceedings involving the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario (CPAO), the Canadian Public Accountability Board (CPAB) and the Department of Justice (DOJ). In addition to appearing regularly before the Superior Court of Ontario, Norm appears in the Court of Appeal for Ontario, the Supreme Court of Canada, the Tax Court of Canada, the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, the Saskatchewan Court of King's Bench and the Superior Court of Quebec. He also appears before the Commercial List in Toronto as well as before numerous regulatory and administrative tribunals throughout Ontario.

Norm was seconded to a global architecture, engineering and planning firm, serving as associate general counsel for North America for nearly four years (2021–2025). During his secondment, he was extensively involved in hundreds of construction disputes on transportation, condominium, hotel, wastewater and brownfield projects around the world, particularly in the P3 space, including the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, the Hurontario LRT (Hazel McCallion Line), the Edmonton Valley LRT and the Red Line (Tel Aviv Light Rail). Following his secondment, Norm continues to be involved in these areas of practice as external counsel to the firm.

Norm has done a significant amount of pro bono work acting as duty counsel on behalf of lawyers and paralegals appearing before The Law Society Tribunal, particularly where mental health issues are in play. He is a frequent speaker at continuing legal education conferences regarding Litigation, ADR and Class Actions.

He holds an LLB from Queen's University (1986) and a B.Comm. (with Distinction) from Concordia University (1983). He is recognised by The Best Lawyers in Canada as one of Canada's leading lawyers in Corporate and Commercial Litigation and by Benchmark Litigation as a Local Litigation Star (Ontario). He also plays electric guitar with his blues band Oui B. Jamon and his Rolling Stones tribute band, Edith Grove, performing at charity events for organisations including CIBC's Run For The Cure, March of Dimes Canada's "Rock For Dimes," Peacebuilders International's "Spring For Peace," Covenant House, Renascent Centre, The Canadian Music Therapy Trust Fund, CANFAR's "AIDSBEAT" and Nankind.